Cordovan vs Merlot
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Both sit in the pink family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. They have nearly identical light reflectance values (6 vs 4), so they'll read as similarly Dark in most lighting conditions. Both lean warm, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. The ΔE 6.9 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Cordovan vs Merlot in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Cordovan and Merlot are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Color Details
Cordovan vs Merlot Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Cordovan on one side and Merlot on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Cordovan comparisons
See how Cordovan stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 6, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 6), opening up a space where Cordovan encloses it.
Evergreen Fog reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 6), opening up a space where Cordovan encloses it.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 6), opening up a space where Cordovan encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 6, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 27 vs 6, Denim Drift is decisively the brighter choice.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 6), opening up a space where Cordovan encloses it.
At LRV 55 vs 6, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 44 vs 6, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 6), opening up a space where Cordovan encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 6, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 6, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (12 vs 6) makes Pewter Green the marginally brighter of the two.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 8 vs 6), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 68 vs 6, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (12 vs 6) makes Vintage Vogue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 45 vs 6, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Pale Green reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 6), opening up a space where Cordovan encloses it.